Government Relations

Legislative Update

May 25, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

Biennial Budget

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met yesterday, May 24, and made major decisions regarding the UW System’s capital budget.  The Committee voted on Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) papers 180-184 that can be referenced on the LFB web site under the headline “Building Program.”  See individual links below:

LFB Paper 180  General Purpose Revenue (GPR) Supported Bonding

LFB Paper 181  Academic Buildings

LFB Paper 182  Student Unions

LFB Paper 183  Residence Halls

LFB Paper 184  Energy Conservation

UW System prepared preferred positions to LFB papers 180-184, linked here: UWS Capital Budget Response

Initially the JFC committee voted on two omnibus motions. Motion #309 (Rhoades) would have funded all UW projects in paper 180, reduced all-agency funds by $35 million, and eliminated two union projects and six residence halls.  Motion #310 (Decker) would have funded all of the UW System projects in the capital budget. Both motions failed 8-8 along party lines.

The Committee then voted 16-0 to support all the General Fund Supported Projects, and 16-0 in support of all the UW System’s proposed Academic Building Projects, outlined in papers 180 and 181.

The other two UW papers regarding student unions (182), and six residence halls (183), were not revisited by the committee.  Therefore, they will not be included in the JFC’s final recommended budget.

Finally, the JFC voted to support $30 million in bonding for energy conservation projects across all state agencies (out of a $50 million requested). This completes JFC work on the UW System’s Capital Budget requests.

The Growth Agenda (UW System’s proposed operating budget) is expected to come before JFC in the next 2-3 weeks. UW System students, alumni, and community partners will likely continue their active support of the UW System’s budget and a strategic re-investment in higher education. An updated set of fact sheets is available online to help explain these budget initiatives: Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.

JFC expects to complete its work by early June, with both the Capital Budget and Operating Budget becoming part of one overall state budget bill, which will go on to the full Senate and Assembly. Differences between the two houses will be worked out in a Conference Committee, and both houses must approve the compromise version before sending the budget on to the Governor for signature.  

For any additional information about the UW System budget, please contact the UW System Communications and External Relations team.

Budget Tools/Resources

For coverage of the JFC proceedings, follow the Wispolitics.com budget public blog, or listen to the live audio from the Legislature’s home page: JFC Audio Coverage

Growth Agenda for Wisconsin –   This site has been updated with new printable fact sheets, and a list of Growth Agenda endorsements.

The Biennial Budget Bulletin – UW System Summary of the 2007-09 Governor’s Budget

LFB Summary of the Governor’s Budget

LFB Informational Paper on the UW System

History of Biennial Budgets 1997-2007 shows the timeline of the passage of budgets since 1997. 

State Legislation Update

Legislative Activity

May 22 – The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee met in executive session on May 22.  The Committee recommended passage of AB 151 by a vote of 6-3.  The bill makes post-secondary students convicted of certain drug offenses ineligible for state student financial assistance.  The bill is now available for Assembly floor action. 

The Committee also held a public hearing on: AB 194, which would require the UW System Regents to include at least one citizen member from each of Wisconsin’s congressional districts; AB 154, which would allow an income tax deduction for some amounts contributed by a divorced or legally separated parent to his or her child’s college savings account or college tuition and expenses program; and AB 252, which would increase Wisconsin Higher Education Grants (WHEG) to undergraduates enrolled at least half-time at public higher educational institutions from a maximum of $3,000 per academic year to a maximum grant amount at 50 percent of the highest resident undergraduate academic fees charged to attend an institution within the University of Wisconsin System. No action was taken on these bills.

May 23 – The Assembly Public Health Committee recommended passage of AB 291 by a vote of 8-1.  The bill creates a loan forgiveness program, administered by the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB), for veterinary students who attend the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and choose to enter into food animal practice. The bill is available for Assembly floor action.

May 24 – The Assembly Committee on Insurance held a public hearing on AB 280/SB 154, which provides that every health insurance policy that provides dependent health insurance coverage for a person because he/she is a full-time student must continue to provide coverage for the person if he/she ceases to be a full-time student because a medically necessary leave of absence. View additional sponsors and text.  UW System has recommended a support position from the Board of Regents, awaiting Regent approval late next week. 

Upcoming Hearings

June 4 -- Senator Glenn Grothman has scheduled the final meeting of The Special Committee on Affirmative Action  for June 4 at 7:00 p.m. in room 411 South, State Capitol.  Additional information on the meeting will be provided next week.

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

Representative Mursau/Schultz has introduced AB 327, which currently allows an 11th or 12th grade pupil to attend a public or private institution of higher education, including a technical college, for one or more courses under the Youth Options Program.  This bill would eliminate the Youth Options Program mandate and instead authorize a school district to establish its own youth options program. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education.  View additional sponsors and text

Please note that UW System legislative bill positions that have been approved by the UW System Board of Regents are posted on the web.  View bill positions.

FEDERAL UPDATE

No federal update this issue.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

June  
7-8 UW System Board of Regents Meeting – at UW-Milwaukee

UW SYSTEM NEWS

The President’s 2007 Commission on University Security, created last month following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, met for the second time on May 23rd.  President Reilly has asked the commission to conduct an analysis of campus security within the UW System. Commission members represent a variety of safety, administrative and student services units. The Commission is separate from a Task Force that Governor Doyle has created to examine safety at all of Wisconsin’s public and private universities, but the two working groups are expected to coordinate some efforts.  A report is expected by June 30th for presentation to the board of Regents at their July meeting.  For more information, please contact Grant Huber.

Web Resources

 

Contact

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